The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-16
BERNHARDT IN A BLAZE.
A Panic Averted in the Brooklyn
Theatre
Fronl the Ne1p YORK Morn mo J


Theatre.
From, the Neto York Morning Journal
Sarah Bernhardt showed herself to be last
night not only great actress, but a hero
inc, and her presence of mind saved the
lives of hundreds of people in the Brooklyn
Theatre,
The play was Fedora" and as all thea
tre-goers know, the scene in the first act IS
set as a drawing-roOm, with three double
doors at the back, one supposed TO lead to
the street, the second one to Nv ladlmrs'
bed-chamber and the third, on the extreme
left, to an ante-room.
The unconscious body of vladimir had
| been convened to his chamber, the doctor
had come out and warned Fedora of ms
patients dangerous condition and retired,
when the servant entered with a bottle OF
medicine
Nine Bernhardt as Fedora snatched the
bottle from the servant and Knocked at the
| ante-roOm door. NJ. Fourier who played
Or LOuck,' threw open the double doors
and received the bottle from her, and told
her that she could not see his patient, who
was dying.
Then he closed the double doors, Bern
! hardt sank in a seat near the front OF the
stage, and detective Gretch' went on ex-
aiming the servant as to the manner IN
which their master had been wounded.
Suddenly there was cracking sound
! heard through the theatre, and tiny jet of
| flame burst from the top of the door that
! had just been closed by the Doctor
| None of the players saw it, as they all had
| their backs turned in that direction.
| The cracking sound increased and the
| flames crept slowly up the scenery, spread
! ing as they went.
| Suddenly a woman Shrieked and tainted
and was carried out into the lobby by two
gentlemen.
The people in the gallery had watched the
| fame spread, and some of them began to
whistle and shout to the actors: Look be-
! hind you; the scene is on fire"
Then the entire audience rose to their feet,
| and women screamed while men shouted:
sit down; there is no danger"
For few moments the actors had been
puzzled at the gesticulatiOns of the audi
ence, and Bernhardt was the first one to
turn and see the blazing scene.
"Allons, meSsieuIS,0 she cried, and sprang
at the burning doors, while all the rest fol-
| lowed suit.
BY this time the entire scene was burning
fiercely and it looked as though the theatre
was doomed.
Bernhardt sprang at the door, and with
her own dainty. white kid-gloved hands
tore down the blazing canvas and stamped
the fire out.
BY this time the male members of the
company had recovered their senses, and,
rushing at it, MeSsrs. Angelo and Decor did
good service as amateur tiremen
All this time the audience was standing,
awaiting developments. They behaved no
bly,, as only two or three started to leave the
| theatre.
After a fierce battle of several minutes the
Bernhardt Fire Brigade triumphed, and the
flames were completely extinguished.
The scene was ruined. and black hole
five feet long and two feet wide in the door
showed what might have proved the start
ing of another Brooklyn Theatre disaster.
After it was completely put out Bernhardt
glasped the back of a chair with her black
ened kid gloves and bowed to the audience.
They responded by several rounds of the
loudeSt applause ever heard in a theatre, and
man in the gallery cried loudly, Three
cheers for Belnhardt."
They We're given with will, and then
those who had gone out into the lobby came
back looking rather ashamed of themselves.
| The lady who had tainted returned with her
husband and mother and took her seat.
As soon as the audience was seated and
complete order was restored, Sarah turned
as pale as death, and, dropping into a chair,
buried her face in her hands. For a mo-
ment it looked as if she had forgotten the
actors and was about to indulge tn a good
cry The applause, however, seemed to
| y
raised her head and glanced around In a
queenlike manner.
The scene proceeded without further in
terruption until the close, and as the curtain
fell Sarah was cheered again wildly. She
simply responded by bowling gracefully, and
seemed relieved as the curtain fell for the
second time.
When the fire first broke out Manager
John W Hamilton was seated just behind a
reporter in section c of the orchestra, Both
saw the flames at the same moment, and
turning the reporter asked:
'NWhy, what's thatT
Manager Hamilton at first sprang to his
feet to go on the stage, but suddenly think
ing that he had better remain where he was
and calm the audience he whispered
"Oh! don't say a word. They can put it
ont on the STAGE Then he waved his hands
to the audience. many of whom were facing
toward the door, and shouted sit down.
There is absolutely no danger lie stopped
one or two men who were sinking out, and
reasoned with them until they returned to
their seats.
Manager Hamilton said afterward, as he
drew a long breath "Whew Well, that was
a close call. When | saw the flames a cold
chill ran up my spine. The audience be-
haved well, but | never saw a greater eXhi-
bition of pluck than that of BeInhardt.
Most of the emotional actresses of the pres
ent day would have tainted instead of tear
ing down the burning canvas.
II knew there was really no danger, be
cause this theatre is thoroughly fre-proof
but there is no telling what might have hap
pencd if the audience had been seized with a
panic That is where the real danger comes
from in case anything happens in theatre.
| have known a case where one man walk
ing rapidly out of a theatre to catch a train
has almost caused a panic"
AS Manager Hamilton had just returned
from behind the scenes he was asked the
cause of the fire.
Il have Just made thorough investiga-
ton" he replied, land find that a bunch
light was placed too near the scene. A
bunch light is a group of lights on stand
that can be moved TO any part of the stage
.. When the Doctor opened the door it rested
against this light for a second, and the in
, fammable canvas, saturated with paint
ignited 1t was fortunate that it was dis
! covered so soon -